The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ajah

  • LASG: Don’t neglect Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis

    LASG: Don’t neglect Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis

    By Eniola Uthman & Esther Owolabi

    Sir: Since the return of democratic rule 24 years ago, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has become the first and only governor to spend his entire first term without visiting the Ajah-Ado-Langbasa-Badore axis of Eti-Osa LGA. Eti-Osa leaders have in the last two weeks been speaking in public about how there are none of our indigenes in his regime. He needs to do something about how he is perceived here. The optics are not good.

    President Bola Tinubu began the process of turning this critical axis into a middle-class environment when he was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 by building a standard eight-kilometre road there, complete with excellent drainage. His successor, Babatunde Fashola, not only completed the road but also built the main road of First Unity Estate, an important residential area of Badore, as well as two roads in Langbasa. 

    What is more, Fashola built the Badore Mini-Water Works and the Badore Jetty to enable people to get to Ikoyi and Lagos Island without having to go through Lekki Phase One and Victoria Island. Fashola’s successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, built the Jubilee Flyover at the Ajah Roundabout which has gone a long way to ameliorate the traffic gridlock there.

    It would seem, however, that the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis has now been allowed to turn into a massive ghetto. Last Sunday, August 20, for instance, motorists, including tri-cyclists, spent at least one hour on one spot, specifically at the Anglican Church of Ascension and the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church junction in Badore because of the potholes in front of these churches, which have now developed into a crater. Since then, people have been spending more than one hour on this spot. More potholes on the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore Road are expanding rapidly and new ones are created almost daily as the rains continue to fall.

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    To be able to get to the office punctually and return home early enough to prepare for work the next day, residents of the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis have been leaving for other parts of the Lekki Peninsula in droves. This development means massive depreciation of properties and other assets in the area. Some have their properties at less than the market value. Frankly, very few things can be depressing to a person to be a landlord for decades only to become a tenant in another part of the same place.

    To worsen life in the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis, all the amenities provided during the Tinubu and Fashola days are in a decrepit state. Take the Catholic Mission Street in Badore which Tinubu tarred after building a settlement for fishermen around the Tarzan Jetty in Badore – It is probably the worst road in the whole of Eti-Osa LGA not just because of the utter mess the road has become but also because it has been overtaken by all manner of illegal structures and shacks. It is now a mini shanty town.

    All the street lights provided in this axis are gone! And this was the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999 that we had an election and celebrated Christmas and New Year without streetlights being switched on.

    Needless to state, the Badore Jetty built under Fashola has become one of the abandoned projects. The result? Undue congestion and pressure on the Lekki-Epe Highway, with all the grave economic, political, and social consequences. Yet, the Lagos State government speaks endlessly of its commitment to water transportation development. And again, the Badore Mini Water Works built by Fashola has fallen into great disuse due to non-maintenance—in fact, outright abandonment.

    Sanwo-Olu is not alone in the neglect of the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore part of Eti-Osa. We don’t even know the name of our National Assembly members, including the senator who has been there for years. The House of Assembly member is not known to us. The same goes for the chairman of Eti-Osa LCDA. The health centre in Badore and the roads constructed by Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, a former LCDA chairman, in Ajah, Addo and other places are still there. Governor Sanwo-Olu can direct the Eti-Osa LCDA chair to do something about the infrastructure and shacks in these parts.

    The Lagos State government has a duty not to allow the Ajah-Addo-Langbasa-Badore axis to become another huge ghetto. The place has deteriorated enough on his watch.

    • Eniola Uthman & Esther Owolabi, Badore-Ajah,Lekki Peninsula, Lagos State.

  • Man remanded for defiling 10-year-old step daughter

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a 58-year-old man, Sunday Akpan, who allegedly defiled his 10-year-old step daughter.

    Akpan, of Thomas Estate, Ajah, Lagos, was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of defilement before Mrs K. O. Doja-Ojo.

    Prosecuting Inspector Peace Chukwudi alleged that the defendant committed the offence at about 2pm on December 8, at 1004 building, Thomas Estate, Ajah, Lagos.

    She said Akpan had “unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl without her consent.”

    Read Also: Court remands man for alleged rape

    According to her, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Akpan’s plea was not taken.

    The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant pending legal advice on the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Magistrate Doja-Ojo granted her application and remanded Akpan in prison custody.

    She ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to DPP for legal advice.

    The case was adjourned till January 9 for DPP’s advice.

  • N4.5m ‘fraud’: Lawyer ‘jumps bail’, changes name

    … remanded in prison

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a lawyer, Chidi Uzoije Amadi, who allegedly jumped bail and changed his identity, after his arraignment in 2016 for obtaining N4.5 million by false pretense.

    Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay made the order following Amadi’s re-arrest and re-arraignment on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money by false pretense.

    The fresh charge, marked LD/5648c/2017, was preferred against him by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    It alleged that Amadi obtained the sum from a businessman, Augustine Chigbo Okoro in 2013, on the pretext that he could secure him 20 plots of land at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, for N200,000 per plot.

    He allegedly failed to do so, did not return the money and fled after being granted bail.

    Prosecution counsel, Mrs K.O. Sarumi, said the alleged offences contravened sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Amadi pleaded not guilty.

    The defendant’s wife, Ngozi Chidi-Obinwanne of Gamaliels’ Advocacy, applied for a date to hear his bail application.

    But Sarumi opposed her. She notified the judge that the defendant was a flight risk and prayed the court to remand him for trial.

    The prosecutor alleged that the defendant absconded soon after he was granted bail in the same matter by an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in 2016.

    She told Justice Nicol-Clay  that Amadi moved from Amuwo-Odofin and also relocated his law firm, Chidi Uzoije Amadi & Co. to an unknown location.

    Read Also: Suspected fake lawyer remanded for ‘false pretence, perjury’

    The court heard that the state filed a case against him at the high court but Amadi failed to appear, following which a Bench Warrant was issued last April, and the police began a man-hunt for him.

    According to the prosecutor, Amadi was neither seen nor heard from until November 13, when, following a tip-off, he was re-arrested at an Epe High Court.

    The court heard that Amadi allegedly moved to Ajah area of Lagos and now practices law under a new name: Chidi Uzoije Obinwanne.

    The prosecutor said investigation was ongoing to determine the defendant’s current identity, residence and place of work.

    Justice Nicol-Clay remanded Amadi in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Ikoyi and adjourned till November 28 to hear his bail application.

    On February 5, 2016, the Police Federal Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon, Lagos, arraigned Amadi at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge bordering on fraud.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr Ezekiel Upah, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said sometime in 2013, Amadi promised a businessman, Augustine Chigbo Okoro, that he could secure him 20 plots of land at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, for N200,000 per plot.

    Upah told the court in charge No. I/0716, that Amadi, “with intent to defraud, obtained N4.5m from Okoro by falsely representing yourself to him that you were capable of providing 20 plots of land for him at the cost of the said amount of N4.5m only in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.”

    He said Amadi failed to provide the land but did not return Okoro’s money.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 312(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Amadi pleaded not guilty.

    Senior Magistrate H. O. Amos granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum.

    He remanded the defendant in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms and adjourned till March 3, 2015 for mention.

    At that time Amadi, described himself on his Facebook page as a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Abia State University, Uturu, resident at Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

    But the defendant now goes by the name Chidi Uzoije Obinwanne on his Facebook page.

  • Police arrest 11 suspected cultists

    The police in Lagos have arrested 11 suspected members of a cult group, New Black Movement of Africa.

    Godwin Victor, Benjamin Daniel, Saviour Anioffiong, Lawal Ibrahim, Shola Odekunle, Sodiq Olawuyi, Segun Fagbohun, Bashiru Lawal, Chinedu Francis, Wahab Adams and Ifarinde Adeniyi were arrested at the wee hours of Friday at Jakande Estate, Ajah, where they were allegedly terrorising residents.

    It was gathered that the suspects had gone to the area in search of a young man who fled their initiation ground.

    The unnamed young man, it was gathered, could not withstand the torture and other initiation procedures of the group, which made he flee.

    Afraid that he would give them away, the suspects were said to have gone to his neighbourhood, beating and robbing people.

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    According to spokesman for the command, Chike Oti, the escapee’s mother sneaked out of the house and alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ilasan, Onyinye Onwuamaegbu, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    Oti said: “The DPO led a contingent of policemen to the estate and arrested eleven members of the group. The police team recovered a locally made shotgun, four live cartridges, three cutlasses, one sledge hammer, ten horse whips and assorted charms.

    “In a related development, two notorious cultists, Rasheed Yusuf aka Radical and Abel Okwo were arrested during a supremacy battle between the Aiye and Eiye confraternities at Akerele Street, Oworonshoki.

    “The said Abel Okwo was charged to court two months ago by the command for cult related offences only to come back to terrorise the town again.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Imohimi Edgal has vowed the Command will not relent in its efforts at ridding the state of members of these unlawful societies.

    “He urged parents to hold heart to heart talks with their children, male and female alike, on the consequences of belonging to cult groups.”

  • Woman buys clothes, ‘pays with fake money transfer’

    A woman, Joy Godwin, who allegedly bought designer items worth N306,000 from a boutique but paid via a fake money transfer, was on Wednesday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Godwin, 26, was arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of fraud and theft before Mrs F. M. Dalley.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Oluwafemi Adeleye alleged that Godwin committed the offences on July 13 at about 2:30pm at Ajah, Lagos.

    The court heard that the defendant bought clothes shoes and bags worth N306,000 from Dress Jem Boutique and requested to pay by money transfer into the boutique’s account.

    She was given a Point of Sale (POS) machine and it indicated that the transfer was successful, following which she left with the goods.

    However, it was afterwards discovered that no money was remitted into the boutique’s bank account.

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    Adeleye said: “The sales girl called the number the defendant gave the boutique several times, but it was unavailable.

    “On July 17, the defendant returned to the boutique, disguised with a hijab and sun glasses. She bought five tops, one trouser and two pairs of shoes and again asked to use the POS machine.

    “Her request made the sales girl suspicious and she asked to see the defendant’s face, but she refused. The sales girl raised the alarm and, when the defendant’s sunglasses and face veil were removed, it was discovered that she was the same person.”

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    But Godwin pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Dalley granted her N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case continues on August 14.

  • Eko Disco announces power outage in VI, Lekki, Ajah, Lagos Island

    The Eko Electricity Distribution (EKEDC) yesterday announced an impending power outage that would affect consumers in Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki and their environs.

    EKEDC General Manager, Corporate Communications Mr Godwin Idemudia, in a statement in Lagos, said the outage is to enable Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to carry out routine maintenance work on some its vital facilities servicing the area.

    According to the General Manager, the outage, which is scheduled to take place every Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks, will last for four hours on each day of the maintenance work.

    “In order to minimise the effect of the planned outage on the company’s customers, back-feeding arrangements have been put in place from Ijora Transmission station to Alagbon Transmission Station.

    “This will enable customers in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Island to receive reasonable power supply.

    “We appeal to all residents that will be affected by the planned outage to please bear with the situation,” he said.

    Idemudia assured the consumers in the affected areas that the maintenance work would lead to better services to all customers.

  • Lagos Assembly lauds govt over schools

    Lagos Assembly lauds govt over schools

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon Lanre Ogunyemi has praised the state government for providing a condusive enviroment for smooth resumption of pupils for the new academic session in public schools.

    He gave this commendation when he led members of the committee on a visit to Lagos State Model College, Ajah to observe the resumption of schools for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The lawmaker said they were impressed with what they saw during the surprise visit.  He said with the provision of modern infrastructure by the state government, the schools, teachers and pupils were ready for the new academic session.

    “Despite coming early and unannounced, we met the students and teachers on ground, a clear indication of their readiness for the new academic session,” he said.

    Ogunyemi also donated N300,000 to the college on behalf of his daughter, Dr. Olubukola Ogunyemi, who a former pupil of the school.

    The lawmaker, who represents Ojo Constituency 2 in the Assembly, used the opportunity to call on private organisations in the state to support the government on education.

    “We are calling on more corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to support the government in education, and look into our riverine areas to support education there,” he said.

    On Monday, many schools across the state made extra efforts to receive their pupils and get them ready for academic activities.

    To encourage pupils to show up on the first day of resumption, a teacher Oduduwa Government School, Papa Ajao, Mushin, who simply referred to himself as Mr Rahim, said they were made to write tests

    “We conduct a pre-resumption test so that the pupils can know what will be involved in the term and also introduce them to their new class teachers and new classes, as well as so many other things that can bring to success of the school”.

    Not many pupils showed up at the Ovie Children School, Mushin, a situation the head teacher, Mr. Olasukanmi Fayola, attributed to the heavy downpour.

    “Due to the heavy down pour, pupils did not show up as expected but this term is full of lots of activities that will not only build the children mentally but teach them how to be better citizens.  Everything being taught in school will be used in their day-to-day activities.

    The reverse was the case at Crown Gate Nursery And Primary School, Somolu, where Head Teacher, Mrs. Anthonia Okunlola said the turnout of pupils was high.

    “Despite the heavy downpour a lot of students turn out well to school and new students were enrolled in d school”.

    Ahead of resumption, she said the school: “renovated and decorated the classrooms… the teachers also prepared their lesson notes; and we also had meeting to discuss areas we are lacking.”

  • Ajah, Lekki, Alagbon face three-hour outage

    •Ekedc apologises for ‘prolonged blackout’

    There will be a three-hour power outage in Lekki, Ajah and part of Alagbon in Lagos on Thursday, Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) said yesterday just as it apologised for the “prolonged outage” in its domain.

    The firm’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said in a statement, that the planned outage would enable its maintenance crew to replace the weak aluminium conductor down dropper between the line and capacitor voltage transformer at Ajah T.S.

    He said the company had been briefed by Mr Mustapha Raji, an engineer from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ajah Sub-Region.

    “Kindly note that on Thursday between 10am and 1pm, there will be an outage on 330kV Egbin – Aja Line 3.

    “This is to enable maintenance crew to replace the weak aluminium conductor down dropper between the line and the capacitor voltage transformer at Aja T.S.

    “With this outage, Aja, Lekki and part of Alagbon T.S. will be affected.

    “EKEDC highly regrets any inconvenience caused by this three-hour outage, “ Idemudia said.

    Apologising for putting customers in darkness, Idemudia, in another statement, blamed the shortage on drastic reduction in the amount of electricity coming to EKEDC from the national grid.

    According to the statement, the company could only distribute what was allocated to it from the national grid.

    “We are, therefore, appealing to all our customers to bear with us as we try to ration whatever power is given to us in the interim.

    “EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this prolonged blackout, though most of our consumers are affected by this outage but some areas are deeply affected.

    “Areas deeply affected by the drop in generation are Ikoyi, Park View Estate, Victoria Island, Awolowo Road, Obalende, Idumagbo, Lagos Island, Oniru and Lekki areas,” the statement said.

    The statement said the outage had led to vandalism of cables and transformers by unscrupulous elements.

    It appealed to consumers within the network to be vigilant to stem the spate of cable theft and transformers vandalism.

    “We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to our customers to be vigilant over our equipment as vandals may capitalise on the outage to carry out their evil act,” it stated.

  • Why Lekki/Ajah is property investors’ preferred destination

    Why Lekki/Ajah is property investors’ preferred destination

    Lekki and its corridors are goldmine for smart real estate and property investors willing to double their investment within a short time.

    Lekki, regarded as the new Dubai in Africa, is the most structure part of Lagos and holds huge potential for both cheap and expensive properties.

    Its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean has increased its commercial value significantly as this attracts smart international investors from different parts of the world.

    Why Lekki is now the investment destination of choice:

    It is situated by the sea coast of and has the most ventilated environment in Lagos.

    It boasts of resort centers like the Eko Tourist Resort and La Campagne Tropicana beach resort.

    Lekki has a Federal Highway that links Lagos to other parts of the country.

    Lekki is home to several top class estates and properties.

    It has proposed international airport and International FREE Trade Zone.

    Several international projects such as Dangote Refinery, oil tank farms and seaport are ongoing in the area.

    This is the time to take advantage of Lekki’s unique location and its alluring features.

    For more information contact:

    VINE REALTORS LIMITED – http://vinerealtors.com.

    Our services include – real estate sales, real estate brokerage and products sales and services.

    For real estate sales, we assist our clients in selling properties across residential and commercial categories. Our focus is on fast developing emerging locations within the Lagos metropolis; with a plan to diversify into other cities, states and countries.

    We have several properties available and these include – VIP Gardens, Blevic Gardens, Kingston Gardens, City Point Gardens and Crystal Garden, among others.

    We assure you of a great deal.

    Contact us:

    Email: info@vinerealtors.com

    Phone: 08052864662, 08166250519

  • ‘Why V.I., Lekki, Ajah, others are in darkness’

    ‘Why V.I., Lekki, Ajah, others are in darkness’

    •EKEDC promotes spokesman, others

    The trip in a line from the Egbin Power Station caused the power outage in some areas of its jurisdiction since Sunday, the Head, Corporate Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, has said.

    He said the problem affected residents of Ajah, Lekki and Alagbon to get power.

    Other areas affected by the outage include Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Lekki, Ajah, and Ibeju, Idemudia said, adding that  efforts were being made by generation and transmission technical personnel to repair the fault.

    Idemudia appealed to customers to bear with the company, and that supply to the affected areas would be restored soon.

    The spokesperson of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Lagos Region Mrs. Celestina Osin, confirmed that the blackout was as a result of a detachment on the wire of the Egbin-Ajah 330KV Transmission Line3.

    She said: “Our team of maintenance engineers is already at work to rectify the fault as quickly as possible, with the aim of getting customers back to the system. We therefore, apologise to all affected customers to bear with us for all the inconveniences caused by the blackout. We assure customers of a speedy restoration of power.”

    Meanwhile, Eko Electricity Distribution Company has promoted  some top staff members.

    According to a statement, Idemudia was promoted from Assistant General Manager (Corporate Communications) to General Manager.

    Principal Managers Uzoh Obialeri, Femi Adewumi and Iyabo Iledare, have moved up  as Assistant General Managers.

    The District Manager, Islands District, Oluwafemi Olaoye and Uthman Saheed Abiodun of Finance and Accounts Department are now Principal Managers, while Ovie Adjekpiyede of Projects Department and Iheoma Chukwuka of Legal Department were promoted Senior Managers.

    The company said the exercise was  continuous  and a demonstration of the company’s unwavering desire to position itself as a worker-friendly organisation.